Microsoft’s insider program has given access to early build of Windows 10 for phones for few registered insiders. Since then, it is raining screenshots of Windows 10 (for phones) from different Windows communities across the web. Seems like this is turning out to be the next wave. We have tried to put everything at one place comparing one on one with the current Windows Phone 8.1.

Leaked Screenshots of Windows Phone 10

Start screen

As you can see in the Windows Phone 10 start screen, the background wallpaper/image which is set occupies the full estate of the phone screen not leaving any room for the dark/light background. While in the Windows Phone 8.1, the background image overlays only on top of the tiles and giving enough room for the phone’s dark/light background. To keep it simple, we can visualize this similar to standard Windows desktop where the tiles lying everywhere. There are no significant changes in the top clock bar.

Action center

The new Action center in Windows Phone 10 has three rows of action bar items. If you can watch closely, the “All Settings” option in 8.1 has been made as one of the action bar items and a collapsible control has been added in Windows Phone 10’s action center. A welcome change, providing users with more control under a single tray, so one need not bother visiting the settings page very often for a simple change.

Settings

This is the much voted feature request in Uservoice, Microsoft has finally listened and now has made a beautiful looking settings page. The settings page in Windows Phone 10 now looks very neat, organized and well grouped under important headings just similar to what we see in desktop version of Windows. A descriptive icon next to main settings item makes everyone’s life easy. In Windows Phone 8.1, the user has to scroll endlessly to find the desired settings item which is bit of a pain as things are not grouped/ sorted alphabetically. You can also notice a thick Settings header with icon which is missing in 8.1.

Apps list

Just like we saw in the start screen of Windows Phone 10, the background wallpaper continues to appear even in the app list. The famous jump-start menu in the apps list of Windows phone 10 is now more left aligned unlike the center alignment in 8.1. The search bar icon now aligns with the jump-start menu. Looks more neater. We have also seen in one of the presentations, Joe Belfiore of Microsoft demonstrating the inclusion of a feature where the recently installed app appears on top of the app list for greater accessibility.

Keyboard

The Windows Phone 10 now comes with a draggable keyboard which is in fact very useful for devices which are of large screen like Lumia 1520. You can also see the addition of “Microphone” which you could use to dictate your message instead of typing.

These are just early screenshots of Windows Phone 10 and might be subject to change.

Uber, the popular Taxi app has now hit the shelves of Windows Phone store! Joel Belfiore of Windows Phone team has confirmed this news by tweeting “Another big-brand, official app on WP! UBER!” . The application is available in most of the Uber operated regions. The Uber application for windows phone is available for free. The company also posted this on their blog .

Some cool dude at PhoneDesigner has posted some interesting Lumia 330 pictures. Well, This comes after Satya Nadela of Microsoft announcing that he is halting Series40 / Asha Phone development along with Nokia X. Series 40 phones and Asha phones are very popular in developing countries like India. As these budget phones are saying goodbyes, it should make way for nothing-but-windows phones!

It is interesting to note, Nokia never used any Phone Model series starting with the digit 4. That’s why we have Lumia 330.. And this is how it looks!

Apparently there are two different versions of VH1 App on Windows Phone. The one which recently covered by WPcentral and the other one which I noticed today on my Windows Phone’s featured app list whose logo looks something like this

Interestingly both apps are official ones. I am assuming Non US users would be familiar with the above VH1 logo ( as that of VH1 TV) . If you are in India you can download this version of VH1 on your windows phone from here. Here goes the screenshots

Thanks to David Lorenzin who has uploaded new lockscreen preview video on youtube. The video shows how the upcoming lockscreens look like on windows phone 8.1 . The video showcases 3 different lockscreen themes

Classic

Clock plus

Stripe

Everything looks pretty interesting. 3 years back, say in December 2011, we had covered about free lockscreens available for windows phone 7 . If you compare, there are significant changes from Windows Phone 7. The new animated lockscreens looks classy. We are not sure if it supports something like pattern lock ( like Maze lock popular in Android ). We hope this new animated lockscreen app hits the store as soon as possible for all range of windows phones running 8.1 .

Update: There is an app called Animated Lockscreen published by VenetaSoft which gives a good preview of how the lockscreen looks like on your windows phone 8.1 . Download the preview app from here . ( Yes , it works on 512 Mb RAM devices too! )

The new windows phone 8.1 comes with over 100 plus features compared to Windows Phone 8. Some of the notable features are Action Center, Transparent tiles, Cortana and improved social integration. However people who are used to Windows Phone 8 might be finding little hard to update their social network status’ on 8.1.

Primary reason being, The Windows Phone 8.1 doesn’t provide a native support for facebook and other primary social sites. Because of constantly changing features in facebook / others , Windows phone has chosen not to pre-build a third party service for longitivity reasons. Instead windows phone 8.1 has opened doors for something called social extensibility framework where a third party apps can write their custom interface which integrates deeply into Me tile ( Popular in windows phone) .

If you are primarily looking for updating status at 1 shot.. There are few helpful apps which integrates all social networking sites at one place. So that you can link all your social accounts and use that as your default “Status update app” ( Which you can configure from Settings in Me tile) ..

Dell latitude 10 is a recently released multi-touch 25.4 cm tablet which runs on Windows 8. Dell claims this tablet as a “Business” device as it has Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and support for computrace.

The long lasting battery (9:03 / 16:01) puts it apart from its competitor tablets. The Bright IPS Display is one of its key features.
Productivity dock and the optional keyboard support could serve you as a good add-on.

Microsoft Surface Tablets are probably the latest buzz on the Internet. People have already decided to part ways with Apple, after seing the specs of the new Windows 8 powered tablet devices by Microsoft.

Long before there was the Apple iPad and now there is the Microsoft Surface Tablet. Microsoft is taking its tablet industry one step ahead by launching these touchscreen tablets.

1. Fastest Processors on the Planet

The Surface tablets will come in two versions, the Windows RT version and the Windows 8 Pro version. The RT version will run on Nvidia’s ARM chipsets and the Operating system will be Windows RT.

While the Windows 8 Pro version will run on Intel’s latest generation Ivy bridge processors and will be powered by the Windows 8 Pro operating system.

2. Windows 8 Operating System+Metro Style Apps

Windows 8 operating system which is still under development is supposed to make its debut on these Surface Tablets. The Metro Style dashboard and apps are probably the only WOW factors on Windows 8.

Although the concept of Windows 8 was taken a tad poorly by reviewers because it is designed more towards the touchscreen interfaces, its applications will now carry that extra Oomph when it will be previewed on Windows 8 Pro Surface tablets.

3. Full-HD Displays: Time to WOW

Both the RT and Windows 8 Pro will have the same size displays on-board i.e. 10.6 inch cleartype HD panel, although the Pro version will be a Full HD (1080p) display and you are likely to enjoy it more because it also gets you 6 hours of battery life with a 42W battery.

Magnesium casing will further protect the body and give you the added textured finish to your Surface tablets.

4. Touchpad (SURFACE): One of a Kind

What makes these tablets unique are their touchpads! The Surface tablet (unlike the iPad), will have a physical keyboard and a trackpad too which can be fixed onto the keyboard with the help of covers which will allow you to use it as a touchpad.

Additionally, a built-in kickstand will offer you the much needed ease of use. Oh did i tell you, there’s also a pen input? Yes this is not an ordinary pen, the digital ink will flow when you touch the screen with the pen, by which you can hand draw almost anything take a digital Mona Lisa for example hehe…top that iPad!

5. MS Office 2013: Ahead of the future

If you are a student and use Microsoft Office often (i know i do), the RT tablet will come with Office 2013 alongwith the Windows RT, and the guys at the Guardian are already regarding the RT tab as the best MS Office experience.

Fast typing on a tablet is obviously not possible, mostly because of the touchpad and Surface tablets eliminate that drawback by giving you access to physical keyboards.

6. Slimmer than the iPad, Lighter than Miley Cyrus (Almost)

Measuring at a mighty 9.3mm thickness, definitely less than the iPad, the Surface tablets weigh at 676g which is give or take the same as iPad. The RT tablet will be available in storage size of 32GB and 64GB whereas the Pro version will offer you 64GB or 128GB storage spaces.

USB 3.0 connectivity can only be seen in the Pro version, whereas the RT houses the (not so) outdated USB 2.0, and microSD slots are available in both the Surface tablets.

Pricing and Release

Microsoft hasn’t yet officially announced the pricing of these tabs though from what the engadget guys are speculating, these tablets will be more or less in the $500-$700, again that’s just a rumor. Steve Ballmer is planning to release these tabs late this 2012, although Verge is already expecting it in October.

Hands crossed, these Surface tablets will surely be a great competitor to the iPad and unless the guys at Apple are thinking of something unique for their next iPad these tablets will surely hit a home run this summer.

Avast 7.0’s new UI

The installer has also been rebuilt to be more user friendly and in appearance too. The top antivirus software now boasts of a new black rugged look alongwith yellow and blue combinations to make it look neat

There hasn’t been a lot of features introduced in this version, just some slight modifications here and there, the major update being the capability to use remote assistance.

Remote Assistance feature at a look

Remote Assistance is a nice tool which can connect your computer to other computers in your network. Basically it is used for providing technical advise to people almost instantly by making remote connections. This feature has now been incorporated in the standard avast antivirus 7.0.

Sandbox and Safezone features remains intact

Avast Sandbox and Safezone features remain as it is. You can launch untrusted programs in the sandbox utility to allow safe execution of such applications. Safezone provides a similar environment, only here you can run programs which are extremely sensitive to make sure nobody

Browser Protection becomes more intelligent

Browser Protection page has been modified a little bit in this version. Avast integrates a plugin of its own in every browser you have installed on your computer. This Webrep plugin allows you to identify harmful sites on the web. Through this control panel, you can check the status and choose on which browsers this plugin should be installed.

Better overview of your Protection Services

The Real Time Shields page has received a major interface overhaul. All the shields are now arranged in a circular fashion giving you a better view on what each shield is doing. You can also track which shield is running or stopped by checking what color its displaying, green means on.

Cloud services brings you streaming updates

Avast 7.0 also brings cloud services with it to provide better updates to its product users. Avast introduces a concept known as streaming updates. Its a feature wherein your virus definitions will be updated the minute avast discovers of a new virus and adds it to its database.

Cloud services page also gives you a nicer look as to which service is currently turned on. When the nebula’s wire is yellow it means you have enabled the service, when it becomes gray that means its off.

Avast Market introduces new Products on its list

avast! market has three new products available to purchase this time. avast backup which syncs your data to the cloud is tagged at $49.99 / year. avast rescue disc is available for just $9.99 and avast easypass which lets you store your passwords securely in a vault is priced at $9.99 / year.

If you think i have missed out any other features, please feel free to drop by a comment and i will include it in the list above.

Here are the 4 best free lockscreen apps for your Nokia Lumia smartphone. Nokia Lumia is just out and you must be pretty excited owning this envious and slick gadget. Watch out there are a lot of bad people out there who will do anything to get their hands on it. Hehe 🙂 Just kidding, but watch out!

Lockscreen apps are a must have for any smartphone as you can avoid dialing of numbers by accident, and also as an added security from robbers who might misuse with your sensitive data lest it gets stolen. These apps will surely protect you from these common disasters and keep your smartphone safe and secure.

1. MazeLock: This app is a must have for your phone as its very hard to breach the locking mechanism, simply because it is so intelligently designed. Mazelock works on the idea on how you slide your fingers across your touchscreen to create a pattern. It doesn’t have any numbers or codes to unlock. Once you set a pattern in your lockscreen settings you can unlock it by creating the same pattern when your phone gets locked. Thus making it hard for any individual to figure out that specific pattern created by you.

2. SlideUnlock: Slideunlock is also a good lockscreen app. Perhaps this app is more designed towards providing a nice graphical interface rather than on the security features. You just need to slide you finger on the lockscreen to unlock, the kind seen on Apple iPhones. You can also add new app shortcuts onto the lockscreen to launch them directly. A nice feature in this app is it also supports shake to unlock.

4. LockscreenButtons: Lockscreenbuttons gives you a swipe to unlock feature alongwith an extra advantage to add application shortcuts. It will automatically place the six frequently used applications by you onto the lock screen. You can launch your apps directly without the need to unlock your phone. Quite handy isn’t it?

One good reason to buy Windows PC, Windows Phone , XBOX or any of your favorite Microsoft product- Microsoft India has announced a contest named “Meet the Don2: Mission Berlin”, A once-in-a lifetime opportunity for you to take a free trip to the beautiful, historic city of Berlin and also to meet SRK.

To enter the contest one has to purchase any one of the Microsoft products like Windows PC, Windows Phone, Office and Xbox and then login to www.MissionBerlin.in

Looks like Microsoft has been associated greatly with Bollywood. Involvement with Shah rukh khan’s Movie Don2 with their recent tagline “It’s a great time to be a family” suggests MSFT is going BIG towards its Indian Customers.

The Don 2 and Mission Berlin Contest has some amazing prizes to be won.

First Day First Show

For the first 1000 correct entries, there’s a chance to win 4 tickets to the very first show of Don2 on the big screen, along with families and friends.

Meet and Greet the Don

Of the 1,000 select entries, 5 will be shortlisted and each of these families – “SRK, here I come!” – will get a chance to “Meet and Greet Shah Rukh Khan” …

Berlin Bound!

Now, the big one! Of the five lucky entries, the luckiest one will win the never-before opportunity of an all-expenses-paid dazzling tour to Berlin, now also known as the city of Don2 too!

Microsoft in other news..

Microsoft is making quite a lot of noise these days with its amazing TV commercials in India. Here is One such interesting TV ad which caught our eyes which features Microsoft products like Windows PC, Phone and Microsoft office

Microsoft has just launched its new set of Windows Phones and to promote these classy smartphones, the company has unveiled us by building “the Biggest Windows Phone ever” in the New York City.

Yes Microsoft has recently released a new line of Windows phones namely Samsung Focus S, Samsung Focus Flash, HTC Titan and HTC Radar 4G. To promote these phones, Microsoft decided why not build the biggest Windows Phone tower in the most popular city in the world, i.e. New York. The tower is 6 story and 55 foot high and is located in the most